SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE (SAC)

Our belief in tikkun olam, fixing the world, is a key part of our Jewish Reform practice, and the Temple has since its inception been involved in charitable giving and social justice issues--on its own, with other Jewish organizations, and through interfaith and community groups (Dorot, Midnight Run, food and clothing drives, ADL, HIAS, etc. )

Our social action committee (SAC ) oversees many of these activities. Over the last several months, the SAC—composed of board members, Cantor Robin Joseph and several congregants-- has focused on ways to re-energize and re-orient our commitment through a series of topical presentations.

It’s our hope that these events will stimulate conversations and action and will draw congregants and other Rivertown residents to our temple. If you are interested in helping on any of these projects, please let us know by contacting the Temple Office.

The first, which was held on the weekend of April 26 and called “For the Citizen and the Stranger: One Law,” brought representatives of several local refugee organizations to the temple. There was both a Friday night component, in which Kris Oser, a congregant and activist, introduced the topic, and a Sunday afternoon panel that she moderated. Panelists were the leaders of three local nonprofits--Carola Bracco of Neighbors Link, Kathie O’Callaghan of Hearts and Homes for Refugees, and Steve Grieder of Rivertowns4Refugees— who discussed immigration law and policy and their groups’ work.

In front of an audience of about 60 members and nonmembers, they gave compelling and articulate testimony about the refugee situation in the United States and how it impacts us locally. There was a lively Q and A after the panel, and a chance for interested audience members to sign up for/investigate volunteer opportunities with these organizations.

“One Law “ kicked off a series of SAC events we plan to hold throughout the 2019-2020 year. On the weekend of October 25, we plan to hold an event commemorating the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre followed by a discussion that Sunday on

anti-Semitism. On Sunday, November 10, we are planning a trip to to the Auschwitz exhibit at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, arranged by SAC member Lorraine Spenser. Also in November, we will focus on family and Thanksgiving -- “Who’s at the Table?” with a LBGTQ theme. On December 13, speakers from within and outside theTemple community will bring their expertise to the

subject of addiction, with a similar Friday/Sunday presentation. And on February 15, 2020, we will come together to

memorialize the Parkland victims and discuss gun violence.

It’s our hope that these events will stimulate conversations and action and will draw congregants and other Rivertown residents to our Temple. If you are interested in helping on any of these projects, please let us know by contacting Wendy Naidich,